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Sunday, March 27, 2016

Lessons from two European giants’ unity : News Analysis

Shakhawat Liton

An unprecedented joint visit by the foreign ministers of France and Germany
to Dhaka and the topping off ceremony of the Franco-Germany Embassy in the city
has made it evident that their bi-lateral relationship has reached a new
height.This has also set a unique precedent in bilateral relations between
sovereign countries in the world.It is undoubtedly a historic milestone for both the countries. They have
been working relentlessly for more than five decades for this under a
friendship treaty between them and as members of the European Union.This will also have far-reaching consequences in the European Union, a
political and economic union of 28 countries. France and Germany are major
players in the EU.Their unity now speaks about their strength. But things were not as positive
before they got together.There had been centuries of rivalry between the two countries. During World
War II, Germany had kept Paris occupied for four years.Devastated by World War II, some European politicians had felt the need for
developing good relations with others and a mechanism to prevent the recurrence
of war.

Of the leaders, Jean Monnet, a
French statesman, played a crucial role in reducing the gap between France and
Germany and some other European countries as a means to prevent war.

His pragmatic approach “we are not
forming coalitions of states, we are uniting men” worked effectively.

He was firm in his conviction that
the European nations had to unite in order to survive. “Continue, continue,
there is no future for the people of Europe other than in union,” he had
repeated constantly.

Jean Monnet and another French
statesman Robert Schuman are regarded as the architects of the principle that
the best way to start the European bonding process to prevent war was through
developing economic ties.

This philosophy was the foundation
for establishing the European Coal and Steel Community under the Treaty of
Paris signed in 1951. France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium and
Luxembourg joined the association. The main aim of the association was to
ensure peaceful use of steels, a raw material for war industries.

That was just the beginning. Since
then their bonds have grown.

The association was transformed into
European Union through different stages. Member states have surrendered their
sovereignty to some extent to empower the EU.

Now, the laws passed by the European
parliament enjoy supremacy over the laws passed by any of its member state in
its respective parliament. Similarly, the judgements delivered by the European
Court of Justice prevail over the verdicts delivered by top courts of any other
member country.

The EU describes itself as a family
of democratic European countries, committed to working together for peace and
prosperity. The organisation oversees co-operation among its members in diverse
areas, including trade, the environment, transport and employment.

Alongside the acceleration in their
bonding process in the form of union with other European countries, the French
leaders' efforts opened a new era of bi-lateral relation with their rival
Germany.

France and West Germany, at that
time, signed the Élysée Treaty, a treaty of friendship, on January 22, 1963 at
the Élysée Palace in Paris.

The treaty called for consultations
between the two countries on all important questions and an effort to come to a
common stance. Regular summits between high-level officials were also
established since then.

That move paved the way for
establishing a new foundation for relations that ended centuries of rivalry
between them and that confirmed the rapprochement between the two countries
following a history of warfare.

The bilateral relation between them
has been growing since then.

In 2004, they celebrated the 40th
anniversary of the treaty and announced to build the Franco-German Embassy. The
foundation stone was laid on January 22, 2013, the 50th anniversary of the
Élysée Treaty.

On completion of the construction of
the Embassy building, the foreign ministers of France and Germany had flown to
Dhaka on Monday in a rare joint visit. Our foreign minister joined them.

They celebrated the construction of
the Franco-German Embassy in Baridhara on Monday evening, beginning a new
chapter in diplomacy.

In views of German Foreign Minister
Steinmeier: “It's a new symbol. The building we are inaugurating today
symbolizes our unique friendship in unique partnership we will build on to
address joint challenges ahead of us.”

Bangladesh should consider itself
fortunate to become a part of this history in diplomacy. This development has
also brought new opportunity for Bangladesh to take benefits from the two
countries by strengthening ties with them.

The visiting foreign ministers of
the two countries also promised to stay alongside Bangladesh in its fight
against climate change, and called for joint efforts to stop global warming.

Our government should make efforts
to take on the opportunity following their joint visit to Bangladesh in the
run-up to the climate conference COP 21 in Paris.

Our foreign ministry officials say
both France and Germany have a history of friendly relations with Bangladesh.
And both the countries respect Bangladesh's role in facing global challenges
such as climate change.

The growth of EU and the present
bi-lateral relation between France and Germany have stressed the unity of people
to foster economic development and to prevent conflicts. The EU experience
proves unity makes difference. Their mantra is unity.

The politicians in Bangladesh and
this region should learn from their experiences to build unity among themselves
for the sake of the people and also for peace.